DEZA, DIEGO DE:

Second inquisitor-general; Bishop of Salamanca, and professor of theology at the university of that city; subsequently Archbishop of Seville, in which city he died 1506; friend and protector of Christopher Columbus. After Tomas de Torquemada's death Deza was appointed inquisitor-general of all Spain (Sept. 1, 1499). While he held office, 1,664 persons were burned alive, and various penances and punishments were inflicted upon 52,456 persons. Deza was of Jewish descent, and in spite of the cruelty with which he persecuted his kindred, the Maranos, he was, toward the end of his life, publicly accused of being a Jew at heart.He was buried in Seville Cathedral. Compare Inquisition.